Slide Fastener

ABSTRACT

A slide fastener fastens separated portions of one or more outer material. A pair of fastener tapes includes a pair of main body portions, and a pair of folded portions formed by folding each of opposite inner ends of the pair of main body portions in substantially U-shape. A pair of elements are attached to the pair of folded portions. A slider engages and disengages the pair of elements. The pair of main body portions are sewn to the outer material at positions inner than outer ends of the pair of elements in a width direction of the slide fastener.

The disclosure of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2009-002941filed on May 7, 2009 including specification, drawings and claims isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a slide fastener. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a slide fastener with covering tapes, whichprevents elements from being exposed to the outside and has goodappearance. The present invention also relates to a slider fastenercapable of preventing the elements from being separated whilemaintaining good appearance.

A seat of a vehicle is covered by an outer sheet along the shape of aurethane resin mounted on a seat frame. In order to easily overlay theouter sheet on the urethane resin, a slide fastener may be provided at aback lining portion of the outer sheet. There is also a seat with adetachable outer sheet by using a slide fastener.

In such an outer sheet of a seat, a concealed type slide fastener may beused or a slider fastener may be provided upside down to concealfastener elements from view. Accordingly, a fastened portion is obscuredto provide the outer sheet having good appearance (for example, refer toPatent Document 1). In addition, appearance of the outer sheet isimproved by piping formed at a portion where the fastener is not used,such as a seam line, or by changing a type of a stitch.

When using a slide fastener in a pocket provided at a rear surface ofthe seat, in order to have good appearance which has not been proposed,the slide fastener may be willfully displayed to the outside. In thiscase, it is necessary to make the slide fastener itself have goodappearance. In order to make the slide fastener have good appearance, apiping may be formed in a fastener tape (for example, refer to PatentDocument 2), or colors of the fastener tape, the elements, and thesewing yarn may be changed. Further, a slide fastener may be providedwith covering tapes which cover the elements (for example, refer toPatent Document 3).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-49212 A

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-000295 A

Patent Document 3: Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-027765 Y

However, to provide the piping in the fastener tape, an additionalsewing is required. It increases the manufacturing cost of the slidefastener. When changing the colors of the fastener tape, the elementsand the sewing yarn, it is not easy to change the color of the elements.Even when the color of the elements can be changed, the elementsthemselves may detract from the appearance of the slide fastener becausethe elements are exposed to the outside. The slide fastener disclosed inPatent Document 3 increases the attachment strength of the elements tothe fastener tape to obtain a strong engagement state between theelements and the fastener tape, and at the same time prevents thecovering tapes which cover the elements from being rolled up so that theslider can be smoothly moved. However, there is no mention of theappearance of the slider fastener in Patent Document 3. When thefastener tape is attached to the outer sheet, the elements are visuallydistinguished from the outer sheet. Accordingly, there is room for theimprovement in light of the visual appearance. In addition, in theslider fastener disclosed in Patent Document 3, the elements are sewn tothe planer faster tape. Accordingly, if the fastener tape is pulledtogether with the outer sheet in the width direction of the slidefastener, the tension force is directed applied to the pair of elements.Thus, the sewing yarn stitching the fastener tape onto the outer sheetand the fastener tape itself are exposed to the outside, it detractsfrom the appearance of the slider fastener.

SUMMARY

It is a first object of at least one embodiment of the present inventionto provide a slide fastener having good appearance. It is a secondobject of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide aslide fastener capable of preventing the elements from being separatedwhile maintaining good appearance.

In order to accomplish at least one of the objects described above,according to a first aspect of at least one embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a slide fastener that fastens separatedportions of one or more outer material, the slide fastener comprising: apair of fastener tapes including a pair of main body portions, and apair of folded portions formed by folding each of opposite inner ends ofthe pair of main body portions in substantially U-shape; a pair ofelements attached to the pair of folded portions; and a slider thatengages and disengages the pair of elements, wherein the pair of mainbody portions are sewn to the outer material at positions inner thanouter ends of the pair of elements in a width direction of the slidefastener.

The slide fastener may further comprise a pair of covering tapesattached to the pair of elements, and the slide fastener may be attachedto the outer material such that the covering tapes are exposed to theoutside.

The pair of covering tapes may be sewn to the folded portions throughthe pair of elements. Alternatively, the pair of elements may sewn tothe folded portions and the pair of covering tapes may be bonded to thepair of elements.

The pair of covering tapes may cover only upper surfaces of the pair ofelements. Alternatively, the pair of covering tapes may cover the pairof elements such that the pair of elements are not exposed to theoutside.

According to a second aspect of at least one embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a slide fastener that fastens separatedportion of one or more outer material, the slide fastener comprising: apair of fastener tapes including a pair of main body portions, and apair of folded portions formed by folding each of opposite inner ends ofthe pair of main body portions in substantially U-shape; a pair ofelements attached to the pair of folded portions; a slider that engagesand disengages the pair of elements; and a pair of covering tapesattached to the pair of elements, wherein the slide fastener is attachedto the outer material such that the covering tapes are exposed to theoutside.

The pair of main body portions may be sewn to the outer material atpositions inner than outer ends of the pair of elements in a widthdirection of the slide fastener.

The pair of covering tapes may be sewn to the folded portions throughthe pair of elements. Alternatively, the pair of elements may sewn tothe folded portions and the pair of covering tapes may be bonded to thepair of elements.

The pair of covering tapes may cover only upper surfaces of the pair ofelements. Alternatively, the pair of covering tapes may cover the pairof elements such that the pair of elements are not exposed to theoutside.

When the slide fastener comprises the pair of covering tapes attached tothe pair of elements and the slide fastener is attached to the outermaterial such that the covering tapes are exposed to the outside, it ispossible to conceal the pair of elements from view by the pair ofcovering tapes to make the slide fastener have good appearance. Withthis configuration, since the pair of covering tapes are disposed atpositions separated from the surface of the outer material by the heightof the pair of elements, it is possible to provide three-dimensionaldecoration which have not been proposed conventionally, and to make aportion where the slide fastener is used good-looking.

Since the slide fastener itself has good appearance without using theother member such as the piping, it is possible to manufacture the slidefastener at low cost. Since the pair of covering tapes can be easilychanged, it is possible to easily manufacture various types of slidefastener by replacing the pair of covering tapes in different material,color, width, or pattern. Thus, appearance of the slide fastener isimproved.

When the pair of main body portions are sewn to the outer material atpositions inner than outer ends of the pair of elements in a widthdirection of the slide fastener, even though a force is applied to theouter material in a horizontal direction (the width direction of theslide fastener), the force moves the pair of elements closer to eachother. Thus, it is possible to prevent the pair of elements from beingseparated from each other. Further, since the sewing yarn stitching thepair of fastener tapes onto the outer material and the fastener tapesthemselves are unlikely to be visible from the outside, good appearanceof the slide fastener can be maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a slide fastener according to anembodiment of the prevent invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the slide fastenerillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the slide fastenerillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a slide fasteneraccording to a first modified example;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a slide fasteneraccording to a second modified example;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a slide fasteneraccording to a third modified example;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a couch employing a slidefastener according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view illustrating theperiphery of a seam line of an armrest of the couch illustrated in FIG.7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view illustrating abinding member employing a slide fastener according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A slide fastener according to an embodiment of the invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a slide fastener 10 according to theembodiment includes: a slide fastener 20 which has a pair of fastenertapes 21, a pair of fastener elements 22 attached to the pair offastener tapes 21, and a slider 23 that engages and disengages the pairof fastener elements 22; and a pair of covering tapes 30 attached to thepair of fastener elements 22. The slide fastener 10 fastens separatedportions of outer sheet 40. In this embodiment, the slide fastener 20 isa conceal slide fastener. The pair of covering tapes 30 are attached tothe upper surfaced of the pair of fastener elements 22. Referencenumeral 11 in FIG. 2 denotes a cushion material such as foamed urethaneof a couch.

The pair of fastener tapes 21 has a pair of tape main body portions 21a, and a pair of folded portions 21 b which extend from opposite innerends of the tape main body portions 21 a. The folded portions 21 b areformed by folding each of the opposite inner ends of the tape main bodyportions 21 s in substantially U-shape. A element attaching portion 21 cis provided at front end of each of the folded portions 21 b. Thefastener elements 22 are attached to the element attaching portions 21 cat an opposite side of the tape main body portions 21 a.

Each of the pair of fastener elements 22 is a coil element formed in aspiral shape with a synthetic resin monofilament such as polyamide orpolyester. One unit of each coil includes an engaging head portion 22 afor engaging with the opposite fastener elements 22, an upper legportion 22 b and a lower leg portion 22 c extending from upper and lowerends of the engaging head portion 22 a in a substantially horizontaldirection, and a coupling portion 22 d connecting the upper leg portion22 b to a lower leg portion 22 c of an adjacent unit of each coil. Aplurality of engaging head portions 22 a are arranged in a straight linein each coil. In this embodiment, a leg portion adjacent to the elementattaching portion 21 c is referred to as the lower leg portion 22 c, anda leg portion spaced apart from the element attaching portion 21 c isreferred to as the upper leg portion 22 b among the fastener elements22. A core string 24 is inserted through the inside of the fastenerelements 22, and the fastener elements 22 are sewn to the foldedportions 21 b of the fastener tapes 21 by a sewing yarn 25 in a doublechain stitch.

The covering tape 30 is made of, for example, woven fabric, knittedfabric, non-woven fabric, resin material, synthetic resin material orleather. The covering tape 30 is disposed along the upper leg portion 22b of the respective element rows 22 e, and is sewn to the folded portion21 b of the fastener tape 21 together with the fastener element 22 bythe sewing yarn 25. Accordingly, since a dedicated process for attachingthe covering tape 30 to the fastener element 22 is not needed, it ispossible to suppress the increase of the manufacturing cost in theslider fastener 10.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, edge end portion of theouter sheet (outer material) 40 is folded in substantially U shape andis interposed inside the folding piece 21 b of the fastener tape 21,that is, interposed in a space between the tape main body portion 21 aand the attaching portion 21 c. A folded portion 40 a, which is the edgeend portion of the outer sheet 40, is sewn to the tape main body portion21 a by a sewing yarn 41. Consequently, the slide fastener 10 is sewn tothe outer sheet 40 such that the surface of the outer sheet 40 is placedat the same side as the surface of the fastener element 22, to which thecovering tape 30 is attached. The fastener element 22 protrudesoutwardly with respect to the surface of the outer sheet 40. Referencenumeral 42 in FIG. 2 denotes a surface sheet, and reference numeral 43denotes a backing material.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the tape main body portions 21 aare sewn to the outer sheet 40 at positions inner than outer ends (i.e.the coupling portions 22 d) of the fastener elements 22. Morespecifically, the tape main body portions 21 a are sewn to the outersheet 40 at tape-folded side with respect to the coupling portions 22 dof the fastener elements 22.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the slidefastener 10 includes the concealing slide fastener 20 which is attachedto the outer sheet 40 such that the pair of fastener elements 22 aredisposed at an upper side, and the pair of covering tapes 30 attached tothe surface of the pair of fastener elements 22, the fastener elements22 can be concealed by the covering tapes 30, thereby improving theappearance of the slide fastener 10. In addition, since the coveringtapes 30 are disposed at positions separated from the surface of theouter sheet 40 by the height of the fastener elements 22, it is possibleto provide three-dimensional decoration which have not been proposed inthe related art, and to make the fastener using portion good-looking.

In addition, since the slide fastener 10 itself has good appearancewithout using the other members such as a piping, it is possible tomanufacture the slide fastener 10 at low cost. Since the covering tapes30 can be easily changed, it is possible to manufacture various types ofslide fastener 10 by replacing the covering tapes 30 in differentmaterial, color, width, or pattern.

Since the tape main body portions 21 a are sewn to the outer sheet 40 atpositions inner than outer ends of the pair of fastener elements 22 inthe width direction of the slide fastener 10, even though a force isapplied to the outer sheet 40 in a horizontal direction (the widthdirection of the slide fastener 10), the force only moves the pair offastener elements 22 closer to each other. Thus it is possible toprevent the pair of fastener elements 22 from being separated from eachother. Further, since the sewing yarn 41 and the fastener tapes 21 areunlikely to be visible from the outside, good appearance of the slidefastener can be maintained.

In the above described embodiment, the pair of covering tapes 30 aresewn to the folded portions 21 b (the attaching portions 21 c) of thepair of fastener tapes 21 through the pair of fastener elements 22.According to a first modified example, the covering tapes 30 may bebonded to the fastener elements 22 which are sewn to the folded portions21 b (the attaching portions 21 c), as shown in FIG. 4. An adhesive 50is interposed between the covering tapes 30 and the upper surface of thefastener elements 22. Since the covering band 30 is bonded with theadhesive 50 to the fastener elements 22 of the concealed slide fastener20 which is a finished product, replacement of the covering tapes 30 iseasy, so that it is possible to conveniently meet the various demands ofcustomers. The adhesive 50 may be an adhesive sheet or the otheradhesive means.

In the above described embodiment, the pair of covering tapes 30 coveronly the upper surfaces of the pair of fastener elements 22. Accordingto a second modified example, as shown in FIG. 5, the covering tapes 30may cover the pair of fastener elements 22 such that the pair offastener elements 22 are not exposed to the outside. Alternatively, eachof the covering tapes 30 is formed to have the width for covering theupper leg portion 22 b and at least a portion of the coupling portion 22d of the fastener element 22. The covering tapes 30 may be bonded withthe adhesive 50 to the upper leg portions 22 b and the coupling portions22 d of the fastener elements 22 which are sewn to the element attachingportions 21 c of the fastener tapes 21. Since the upper leg portions 22b and at least a portion of the coupling portions 22 d of the fastenerelements 22 are covered by the covering tapes 30, the fastener elements22 are unlikely to be seen from the outside, thereby further improvingthe appearance of the slide fastener 10.

According to a third modified example, as shown in FIG. 6, the coveringtapes 30 may be omitted from the slide fastener 10. Even in thisstructure, since the tape main body portions 21 a are sewn to the outersheet 40 at positions inner than outer ends (the coupling portions 22 d)of the fastener elements in the width direction of the slide fastener,it is possible to prevent the fastener elements 22 from being separatedfrom each other. In addition, since the sewing yarn 41 stitching thetape main body portions 21 a onto the outer sheet 40 and the tape mainbody portions 21 a are unlikely to be visible from the outside, goodappearance of the slide fastener 10 can be maintained.

Next, usage examples of the slide fastener 10 according to theembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

First, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an example in which the slidefastener 10 is used in a seam line 62 of an armrest 61 for a couch 60will be described.

In the couch 60, the slide fastener 10 is sewn to an edge portion of theouter sheet 40 covering the armrest 61. The seam line 62 of the armrest61 is provided with decoration of one line shape, which is rimmed withthe pair of covering tapes 30, when closing the slide fastener 10.

If the covering tapes 30 have the same color as that of the outer sheet40 or the covering tapes 30 are made of the same material as that of theouter sheet 40, the slider fastener 10 is visually obscured in the couch60. If the covering tapes 30 have the difference color as that of theouter sheet 40 or the covering tapes 30 are made of the differencematerial as that of the outer sheet 40, the couch 60 is decorated withthe slide fastener 10.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, an example in which the slide fastener 10 isused as a binding member 70 to bind cords, or the like, will bedescribed.

The binding member 70 binds a plurality (seven in this embodiment) ofcords 71 by the outer sheet 40. The slide fastener 10 is sewn to edgeportions (separated portions) of one outer sheet 40. By enclosing thecords 71 with the outer sheet 40 and closing the slide fastener 10, theplurality of cords 71 are bound by the outer sheet 40, and the outersurface of the cylindrical shape of the outer sheet 40 is provided withthe decoration of one line shape by the pair of covering tapes 30.

If the covering tapes 30 have the same color as that of the outer sheet40 or the covering tapes 30 are made of the same material as that of theouter sheet 40, the slider fastener 10 is visually obscured in thebinding member 70. If the covering tapes 30 have the difference color asthat of the outer sheet 40 or the covering tapes 30 are made of thedifference material as that of the outer sheet 40, the biding member 70is decorated with the slide fastener 10.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments,and may be modified without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

1. A slide fastener that fastens separated portions of one or more outermaterial, the slide fastener comprising: a pair of fastener tapesincluding a pair of main body portions, and a pair of folded portionsformed by folding each of opposite inner ends of the pair of main bodyportions in substantially U-shape; a pair of elements attached to thepair of folded portions; and a slider that engages and disengages thepair of elements, wherein the pair of main body portions are sewn to theouter material at positions inner than outer ends of the pair ofelements in a width direction of the slide fastener.
 2. The slidefastener as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pair of coveringtapes attached to the pair of elements, wherein the slide fastener isattached to the outer material such that the covering tapes are exposedto the outside.
 3. The slide fastener as set forth in claim 2, whereinthe pair of covering tapes are sewn to the folded portions through thepair of elements.
 4. The slide fastener as set forth in claim 2, whereinthe pair of elements are sewn to the folded portions and the pair ofcovering tapes are bonded to the pair of elements.
 5. The slide fasteneras set forth in claim 2, wherein the pair of covering tapes cover onlyupper surfaces of the pair of elements.
 6. The slide fastener as setforth in claim 2, wherein the pair of covering tapes cover the pair ofelements such that the pair of elements are not exposed to the outside.7. A slide fastener that fastens separated portion of one or more outermaterial, the slide fastener comprising: a pair of fastener tapesincluding a pair of main body portions, and a pair of folded portionsformed by folding each of opposite inner ends of the pair of main bodyportions in substantially U-shape; a pair of elements attached to thepair of folded portions; a slider that engages and disengages the pairof elements; and a pair of covering tapes attached to the pair ofelements, wherein the slide fastener is attached to the outer materialsuch that the covering tapes are exposed to the outside.
 8. The slidefastener as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pair of main body portionsare sewn to the outer material at positions inner than outer ends of thepair of elements in a width direction of the slide fastener.
 9. Theslide fastener as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pair of coveringtapes are sewn to the folded portions through the pair of elements. 10.The slide fastener as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pair of elementsare sewn to the folded portions and the pair of covering tapes arebonded to the pair of elements.
 11. The slide fastener as set forth inclaim 7, wherein the pair of covering tapes cover only upper surfaces ofthe pair of elements.
 12. The slide fastener as set forth in claim 7,wherein the pair of covering tapes cover the pair of elements such thatthe pair of elements are not exposed to the outside.